I wanted to make a Butsudan but didn't exactly find the statue I like. (please feel free to judge me on my shallow attachment ) So I set out to sculpt one myself. It is inspired by Gandhara style. It was fun and meaningful experience for me to sculpt the Nyorai. It is abit non-traditional looking but I think I am happy with it. Anyway I just want to share him with everyone. Enjoy and feel free to let me know what you think

“To be fully alive is to have an aesthetic perception of life because a major part of the world's goodness lies in its often unspeakable beauty.”― Yukitaka Yamamoto

I might just sculpt Fudo Myo-o next, well after Kannon Bosatsu (though my Kannon looks nothing traditional). Definitely will be a greater challenge sculpting Fudo Myo-o but it would definitely be a wonderful experience I am sure as it had been with lord Shaka.

“To be fully alive is to have an aesthetic perception of life because a major part of the world's goodness lies in its often unspeakable beauty.”― Yukitaka Yamamoto

Dude, those are some mad sculpting skills! Maybe you should consider doing modern Gandharan versions of Buddhrupas full-time.

"The Sutras, Tantras, and Philosophical Scriptures are great in number. However life is short, and intelligence is limited, so it's hard to cover them completely. You may know a lot, but if you don't put it into practice, it's like dying of thirst on the shore of a great lake. Likewise, it happens that a common corpse is found in the bed of a great scholar." ~ Karma Chagme

Karma Jinpa wrote:Dude, those are some mad sculpting skills! Maybe you should consider doing modern Gandharan versions of Buddhrupas full-time.

Thank you Karma Jinpa! Those are very inspirational words for me. I really do like Gandhara style Buddha. I thought of sculpting more Bodhisattvas in Gandhara-inspired style of course with a touch of my own. Maybe one of these days when I am better I can sculpt to sell lol.

“To be fully alive is to have an aesthetic perception of life because a major part of the world's goodness lies in its often unspeakable beauty.”― Yukitaka Yamamoto

As a former Classicist (i.e. a student of Greco-Roman culture and languages), I have a certain fondness for the Gandharan style.

What many people perhaps don't know is that without Gandharan Buddhism, scholarship indicates the Mahayana would likely not have survived and thrived.

"The Sutras, Tantras, and Philosophical Scriptures are great in number. However life is short, and intelligence is limited, so it's hard to cover them completely. You may know a lot, but if you don't put it into practice, it's like dying of thirst on the shore of a great lake. Likewise, it happens that a common corpse is found in the bed of a great scholar." ~ Karma Chagme

Karma Jinpa wrote:As a former Classicist (i.e. a student of Greco-Roman culture and languages), I have a certain fondness for the Gandharan style.

What many people perhaps don't know is that without Gandharan Buddhism, scholarship indicates the Mahayana would likely not have survived and thrived.

I did not know that but I don't doubt it. I know the practice of using statue as the point of veneration started with Gandhara. Prior to that Buddhists use more symbolic symbol like a foot print of the Buddha. I can see how Greco-Buddhism is short lived but profoundly revolutionized Buddhism. Previously as an art student, I just like Gandhara for its realistic look and also have a love for Greeks art as well.

“To be fully alive is to have an aesthetic perception of life because a major part of the world's goodness lies in its often unspeakable beauty.”― Yukitaka Yamamoto